Stewards VISTA: Biscayne National Park

BISC has made environmental education for local youth a priority for decades. While our staff is small, we have a very efficient and effective repertoire of hands-on experiential curriculum-based and non-traditional programs, projects, and activities. One of the park’s successful community engagement strategies is our afterschool education program for Title 1 public elementary schools. Park staff have an eight-year relationship with the YMCA of South Florida. We are in our third year working with 21st Century Community Centers of Learning (21st CCLC) and offering afterschool and summer sessions. We have also recently expanded education programming with local youth empowerment organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Mahogany Youth, Touch Miami with Love Ministries, GEN2050, and Genesis Hopeful. Our 3–5-year plan for our education program centers around making meaningful connections with local schools and educational organizations. Implementing multiple contacts with each school over the year vs a single 4-hour field trip allows the BISC staff to get to know the students, teachers, administrators, and facilitators better and leads to increased depth of knowledge, appreciation of public lands, and care for conservation.